1. BUILT ENVIRONMENT ACCESS AUDITS
Presentation by
Association for Disabled People
Empaneled Access Auditor for AIC, Govt. of India

2. What is Accessibility?
Environmental access is a set of norms and standards designed to provide safe and independent use of varied environments such as transportation, roads, buildings and communication by persons with disabilities. Universal design is a commitment for designing products and environments for the broadest population possible, especially for the people who have not been considered as part of the general population
Accessibility provides equal opportunity to PwDs by way of providing ACCESS to schools, work places, temples, parks, banks etc. all facilities
Accessibility provisions such as ramps etc. are visible objects which further creates awareness in society for Inclusive Thinking, barrier free society
Different access needs are there for different type of special needs i.e. Disability so there are Universal Accessibility Standards.

3. ACCESS AUDIT Purpose of an access audit:
The purpose of an access audit is to assess how a particular building or environment performs in terms of access and ease of use by a wide range of actual and potential users, including person with disabilities and to recommend access improvements. The aim of the access audit and its follow-up are to:
Identify the extent of the problem of access to public buildings and recommend changes additions to make the environment accessible
To create awareness of the importance of the concept of barrier-free environments for persons with disabilities
To enforce the inclusion of accessibility for persons with disabilities in the official agenda of government and private agencies.
The report includes observations, measurements, sketches and photographs covering all parts of the public building audited including the external and internal environment as well as the services provided in the building.

4. National Building Code 2017.
Accessibility Standards/Guidelines followed in India
National Building Code 2017.
CPWD Guidelines and Space Standards for barrier-free built environment published by Ministry of Urban Development in 2016
CPWD Handbook on Barrier Free and Accessibility, 2014
Rights of Persons with Disabilities ACT 2016.
Effort to harmonise the standards
India still needs a manual on standards .

5. Basics of Building Access Audit
1. Getting To The Premises
Parking
Approach and routes to entrance
Lighting and signage to entrance
Surfaces of approach
Street and grounds furniture
2. Getting Into The Premises
Steps and ramps
Entrance doors and thresholds
Reception areas including desks, seating and lighting
3. Getting Around The Premises
Lateral circulation, width of corridors etc.
Direction signage
Floor surfaces and tonal contrasts of surfaces
Vertical circulation - lifts and stairs

6. Basics of Building Access Audit
4. Using The Services In The Premises
Toilets, washrooms, changing and bathroom facilities
Access to and in eating and bar areas
Public room access and layout
Lighting, heating and acoustics
Accessibility of switches, handles and controls
Seating and furniture
Telephones and electrical equipment
Alarms and acoustics
5. Getting Out Of The Building
Fire exits and escape routes
Emergency lighting and warning systems
Safe refuge areas in event of fire
6. Managing The Building And Service
Keeping routes clear and obstructions removed
Maintenance of lighting, heating and alarm systems
Inclusive Attitude and appropriately trained staff
Publicity material, menus etc.

7. Wheelchair Users – Basic Information
Side reach 250 mm to 1300 mm from floor
Forward reach 1200 mm from floor, Minimum is 400 mm from floor
Average width of the wheelchair is 800 mm
Turning radius is 1800 mm
Knee space underneath that is at least 750 mm wide, 200 mm deep and 750 mm high
The manual uses the manual adult wheelchair for reference

8. People with Visual Impairment – Basic Needs
Tactile Blocks
Photo luminescent way guidance systems
Handrails
Color Contrast (level differences, fixtures, staircases, signage)
Illumination (100 to 150 lux)
Beepers
Remove Obstacles
Embossed characters and Braille for Tactile Reading  (Signage, emergency information, Tactile maps)
Audible Information (Lifts, kiosks, Traffic Signals etc.)
Large Font Size
Consistent Design

9. People with Hearing Impairment
Supplementary visual information should be provided (example - subtitles in TV programs, Railway station screens etc.)
Visual alarms for emergency
Alternate system to Public Address System
Information Signs (including direction signs)
Lighting (Classroom, auditorium, hallways etc.)
Availability of Sign Language Interpreters and sensitivity to communicate in alternate formats (say written)

10. About the Ramps Gradient
Railings/handrails - whether continuous and present on both sides, height, if the same extends on the landings
Tactile indicators along the ramp, landings
Start and end of ramp – enough area for wheelchair turning
Surface of the ramp

11. About the Ramps
Gradient of 1:15 or less. (1:12 is the absolute maximum. )
Minimum unobstructed width (i.e. between handrails) is 1200 mm
Handrails on both sides, that are at a height of 900 mm high measured from the surface of the ramp and that extend 300 mm beyond the top and bottom of the ramp. These shall be continuous on both the sides, even on landings and of 30 – 45 mm diameter, installed at a distance of at least 40 mm from the adjacent wall.  
Tactile warning blocks should be installed at the top, bottom and landings of each ramp run
Non-slip surfaces
At least 1800 mm of straight clearance at the bottom and top
Colour contrasted with the landing

12. About the Ramps

13. About Lifts Width of door opening
Control panel on the jamb – height, colour contrast with the background, Braille
Floor No. signage outside the lift on the opposite wall
Control panel inside the lift car – colour contrast, height of all controls, Braille
In the lift car – railings, mirror, emergency information, information in braille, phone

14. About Lifts
Minimum internal clear space of the lift car should be 1200 mm wide and 1400mm deep
The lift door should be a minimum of 900mm wide and should contrast with the adjoining wall
The lift should have a voice announcement system along with a visual display to indicate the floor level
 A clear maneuvering space of 1800 mm x 1800 mm should be provided in front of the entrance to all types of lift
Controls should be in the zone 900 mm to 1200 mm from the floor
Signs indicating the location of an accessible lift should be provided in a location that is clearly visible from the building entrance
A sign indicating the number of the floor should be provided on each lift landing on the wall opposite the lift

15. About Lifts
There should be handrails placed horizontally, at a height of 900 mm from the floor level; and be fixed on both sides and at the rear of the elevator
The provision of a mirror on the wall of the lift car opposite the lift door is a positive aid to navigation for wheelchair users
There should be no horizontal or vertical gaps between the floors of the lift landings and lift car. Where a horizontal gap is unavoidable, this should not exceed 12 mm
Controls should be in the zone 900 mm to 1200 mm from the floor
Controls should be colour-contrasted with the surrounding face plate panel and the face plate should similarly contrast with the background wall on which it is mounted Information should preferably be in relief (embossed letters/ symbols accompanied with Braille information) for tactile reading

16. About Lifts
Accessible Elevator with Grab Bar, Mirror , button and auditory floor announcement system

17. About Stairs
Railings/handrail - whether the same is on both sides and continuous on landings/mid-landings, height
Directional signage
How fire exit staircase open on the ground floor
Tactile indicators along the staircase flight, landings

18. About Stairs
Straight flights of steps; Treads should be approximately 300 mm deep and risers not higher than 150 mm. Steps should be of a consistent height and depth throughout the stair
There should be no more than 12 steps in one flight run
The stairs landing should be minimally 1200mm deep
The stairs should have minimum 1000 mm clear width
Handrails should be provided to both sides of any stairway. They should be continuous, even on landings, and extend not less than 300 mm beyond the top and bottom step. The handrails should be installed between heights of 900 mm and 1000 mm from the furnished surface of treads and landings
Tactile or high-contrast color markings to indicate the top, bottom and landings of each flight of steps
The stairwell should be equipped at each level with appropriate emergency alarm systems, including visual indicators
Illumination level of 150 lux should be maintained on the stairs
The space under the stairs, with a head room of up to 2.1 meters, to be cordoned off either by building a wall in front of it or by putting handrails to guide persons with visual impairments around the hazard

19. About Stairs
With Proper Hand railing
Hydraulic Chair on stairs

20. Corridors and Hall ways
Accessible Corridors with Tactile flooring and low height grab bar as highlighted

21. Doors and Door ways Door Opening Force (max 22N) (push /pull )
Door Opening Handles / Controls (lever type, not requiring twist , etc.)
Auto Doors

22. Accessible Tables shows knee space for wheel chair users
Cafeteria and Office
Accessible Tables shows knee space for wheel chair users

23. Drinking Water Facility

24. Rest Rooms
An accessible unisex sanitary facilities must have the minimum dimension of 1800 mm x 2350 mm
A clear maneuvering space of 1800mm x 1800mm in front of the water closet and wash basin in the accessible toilet unit.  All fixtures and utilities should provide a clear space of 750 mm x 1200 mm for wheelchair users to access them
The toilet door should either be an outward opening door or a sliding type and should provide a clear opening width of at least 900 mm. Be provided with a horizontal pull-bar, at least 600 mm long, on the inside of the door, located so that it is 130 mm from the hinged side of the door and at a height of 1100 mm. Lock should be easy to operate

25. Rest Rooms
Wash Basin – have a knee space underneath that is at least 750 mm wide, 200 mm deep and 750 mm high
Water Closet should preferably be of wall-hung type and should be positioned such that the distance between the centerline of the water closet and the adjacent wall is 450 mm to 480 mm, and the distance between front edge of the water closet and the rear is 750 mm. The top of the water closet seat should be at a height of mm from the floor. There should be an adequate clear floor space of at least 1350 mm depth and 900 mm width, both in front and on the transfer side, adjacent to the water closet
Grab-bar Details: Have a circular section of mm in diameter; Be mounted at a height between 200 mm and 250 mm from the top of the water closet seat; One 600mm long horizontal and one 600mm long vertical grab bar should be mounted on the side wall closest to the water closet
All utilities and accessories such as soap dispenser, hand dryer etc should be installed between heights of 800mm and 1100 mm from the floor surface

26. Restroom / Accessible Toilet Design Considerations

27. Restroom / Accessible Toilet Design Considerations

28. Emergency Evacuation Emergency Evacuation Evacuation Signage
Evacuation Chair
Emergency Evacuation
Evacuation Signage

29. * Thank you * SUVARNA RAJ Association for Disabled People
‘Presented by’
SUVARNA RAJ
Access Auditor
under the
“Accessible India Campaign”
International Para Athlete
National Role Model Award Winner
National Youth Award Winner
Association for Disabled People
Basti Vikas Kendra, F-1 , Sundar Nagri, Delhi
Contact: